Bonding machine



H. HACKLANDER ETAL 2,534,593

Dec. 19, 1950 BONDING MACHINE Filad June 21, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet l -llvl llllllllllllllllllllll ll uZ/mw and Dec. 19, 1950 H. HACKLANDER ETAL 2,534,593

BONDING MACHINE Filed Jun: 21, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 652 5 a 3mm Jhns Jim/analer and rDec- 1950' H. HACKLANDER ET AL 5 5 BONDING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 Filed Junk; 21, 1945 V Z we m? 5 W HQ n a awn MA;

Patented Dec. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATIENT OFFICE BONDING MACHINE Hans Hacklander, Linden, and Charles P. Sweeny, Sommeryille, N. J., assignors to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 21, 1945, Serial No. 600,788

Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for forming a continuous bonded seam in work-plies of sheet materials by the use of very high frequency electric current, and is adapted for embodiment in apparatus for bonding plies of thermoplastic or thermosetting materials, as well as forum in uniting work-plies by means of adhesives having thermoplastic properties.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide improved means for progressively bonding sheet materials by the use of high frequency electric current; thereby to increase production and improve the quality of the product.

Another object ofthis invention is to provide an electrostatic bonding apparatus having improved means for progressively advancing superposed work-plies in unison through a bonding zone to form a continuous seam.

Other and more specific objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and claims.

The invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front side elevation, partly in section, of a bonding machine forming a portion of the bonding apparatus and embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a front end elevation, partly in section, of the machine. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the mechanism at the free end of the bracket-arm of the machine. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the bed, partly broken away, of the machine. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary rear side elevation of the bed-mechanism of the machine. Fig. 6 represents a cross-section of the upper feeding-element and electrode-carrier, the'section being taken substantially on the line 6-45 of Fig. 2. Fig. '7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical connections between an oscillator of very high frequency and the electrodes. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the electrode-bar collar which supports the fulcrum-plate. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the fulcrum-plate connecting the electrode-bar and upper feed-bar.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown as embodied in'a bonding machine having a frame comprising a bed I, from'one end of which rises a hollow standard 2 of an overhang- I is a rotary main-shaft 6 which may be driven in any suitable manner and is rotatably journaled in bearings I, 8 and 9 provided upon the bed I. The main-shaft 6 has a crank I0 connected to one end of a pitman II extending upwardly through the hollow bracket-arm standard 2. At its upper end, the pitman H is pivotally connected to a crank-arm I2 suitably secured upon a rock-shaft I3 disposed substantially parallel to the main-shaft 6. The rock-shaft I3 extends lengthwise of the bracket-arm 3 and is journaled in suitable bearings I I, I5 and I6 provided within the bracket-arm.

Secured upon the main-shaft 6 is a collar H, which adjustably and in a well known manner carries a feed-advance ececntric I8. The eccentric I8 is embraced by a split strap I9 at one end of a pitman 20 extending rearwardly from the main-shaft 6. At its rearward end, the pitman 20 is clamped upon one end of a horizontally disposed pivot-pin 2| journaled in an apertured boss 22 of an upstanding feed-advance rocker-frame 23. The rocker-frame 23 is formed with laterally spaced depending bosses 24 having alined apertures for receiving a fulcrum-shaft 25 disposed substantially parallel to the main-shaft 6. At its opposite ends, the fulcrum-shaft '25 is suitably journaled in bearing-lugs 26 rising from the bedplate I.

Adjacent the boss 22 thereof, the rocker-frame 23 is formed as a yoke providing laterally spaced bosses 21 having alined apertures in which is journaled a pivot-pin 28. Suitably secured upon the pivot-pin 28, between the rocker-frame bosses 21, are laterally spaced ears 29 formed upon the rearward end of a lower feed-bar 30. Secured upon the forward end of the feed-bar 30 is the shank of a lower four-motion feed-element 3I of a clamp-feed mechanism. The feed-element 3| has two laterally spaced work-engaging sections 32 which are preferablyfiat at the top and which operate through laterally spaced feed-slots 33 provided in a horizontally disposed lower electrode-plate 34; the electrode-plate 34 beingsecured at its opposite ends, by screws 35, upon suitable lugs rising from the bed I.

Integral with the feed-bar 30 is a forwardly extending and downwardly inclined arm 36. The arm 36 has a longitudinal bore 31 providing a socket entered by a slide-pin 38 having, at its forward end, a strap 39 embracing a feed-lift eccentric or crank-pin 40 at one end of the mainshaft 6.

From the foregoing description, it will be understood that rocking movements of variable amplitude are imparted to the rocker-frame 23 from the feed-advance eccentric 18, thereby transmitting work-advancing and return movements to the lower feed-element 3|. The feed-lift eccentric 40 acts through the slide-pin 33 to swing the feed-bar 30 up and down about the pivot-pin 28, thereby imparting rising and falling movements to the feed-element 3 I, 32.

Opposed to the lower feed-element sections are the laterally spaced work-engaging sections or foot-plates ll of an upper iour-motion ieedelement 42. The foot-plates ii are preferably integrally formed and are pivotally secured by alined pivot-screws 43 upon the lower end of the feed-element it". The feed-element i2 is attached by a screw M to the lower end of a vertically disposed upper feed-bar 45. At its upper end, the feed-bar i5 is hung upon a pivot-stud l8 extending laterally from a fulcrum-plate 41; the feed-bar being held on the pivot stud 45 bya screw 4-8 threaded into said pivot-stud.

The fulcrum-plate ll has a lateral boss 49 which is longitudinally apertured to receive a fulcrum-stud 53 extending from a collar 5| secured by a screw 52 upon a vertically disposed electrode-bar 53. The fulcrum-plate 41 is retained upon the fulcrum-stud by a screw 54 threaded into the fulcrum stud. The electrodebar 53 is journaled for endwise reciprocation in vertically "spaced bearings 55 provided in the bracket-arm head 4. A collar 5'6 suitably secured upon the upper end of the electrode-bar 53 is forked to embrace a guide-pin 5'! rising from the head 4, whereby the electrode-bar 53 is restrained against turning about its longitudinal axis. Bearing downwardly .upon the upper end of the electrode-bar 53 is an end of a spring 53, of which the opposite end is anchored by a pin 59 to the bracket-arm 3. Intermediate its ends,

the spring '53 is engaged by a pressure-adjusting screw 60 threaded into a lug 3i rising from the bracket-arm 3.

Attached by a screw 62 to the lower end of the electrode-bar 53 is a collar 63; and rigidly depending from the collar 63 is a block 64 of suitable insulating material, such as polystyrene. The insulating block 64 is slotted at its lower end to receive the reduced shank of an upper electrode 35 riveted to the block and opposed to the lower electrode-p1ate 34. The electrode 65 preferably has downwardly convergent side walls to provide a narrow work-contacting face; said electrode being inclined upwardly towards its front end or toe to facilitate introduction of the work between the electrodes. As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 6, the electrode 65 is disposed substantially medianly between the foot-plates M of the upper feed-element. As also illustrated in Fig. 6 the foot-plates 4| of the upper feedelement are connected rearwardly of the electrode 65. Consequently, the upper feed-element functions to engage and feed the work directly rearwardly of the electrode 65 as well as at opposits sides thereof.

The fulcrim-plate M, which is pivotally connected to the electrode-bar 53, has another pivot stud Gil pivotally embraced by one end of a link held on said pivot-stud 56 by a screw 68. At its opposite end, the link. 3'! is pivotally connected to a slide-block 69 adjustably secured in a segmental slot HI formed in an upstanding crank-arm ll suitably secured upon a short rock-shaft it. The rock-shaft i2 is disposed substantially parallel to the bracket-arm rock-shaft i3 and is suitably journaled in a bearing-lug 13 extending rearwardly from the bracket-arm head The bearing lug i3 is provided with a transverse slot 14 affording clearance for a collar 15 secured upon the rock-shaft 12 by a screw 18. The collar 15 is apertured to receive a slide-pin "ll which is rigidly secured to the collar i5 by a screw Ed; said slide-pin H extending forwardly from the collar '55 and transversely of the rockshait '52. The slide-pin ll is telescopically disposed in a sleeve 19 pivotally carried by a crankpin suitably secured to a crank disk 8i mounted upon one end of the rock-shaft l3. Oscillatory movements of the rock-shaft K5 are, therefore, transmitted by the interfitted sleeve 13 and slide-pin TI to the rock-shaft 12, and by the latter through the crank-arm I! and link 6'. to the fulcrum-plate .41. The amplitude of movement imparted to the fulcrum-plate 41 may be varied by adjustment of the slide-block 69 lengthwise of the crank-arm slot 10.

Adjacent its lower end, the feed-bar '45 is pivotally connectedby a link :82 to the free end of a cranl -arm 83 depending from one end of a horizontal feed-advance rock-shaft 84 disposed substantially parallel to the main-shaft 6. The rock-shaft 8 is jcurnaled in suitable bearings provided at the rear side of the bracket-arm 3. Adjacent its opposite end, the rock-shaft 84 is provided with a rearwardly extending crankarm 85 operatively connected to the upper end of a vertically disposed link 86. The lower end of the link El ispivotally connected to a slide block 31 adjustably secured in a guideway provided by a segmental slot 83 formed in a crank-arm 89. The crank-arm 89 extends forwardly'from and is suitably secured upon one end of :a fulcrumpin .90 journaled in a horizontally apertured bearing-boss 3i formed at the upper end of a lug 92' rising from the bed I. The opposite .end of the fulcrum-pin 9G is provided with-a depending crank-arm 93 pivotally connected to-the rearward end of a pitmanQA. At-its forward end, the pitman 94 has a strap embracing an auxiliary feed-advance eccentric 95 suitably secured upon the'main-shaft 6. The provision for adjustment of the slide-block B1 lengthwise of the crank-arm, and the provision for adjustment of the eccentricity of the lower feed actuating eccentric l3 affords means for regulating the work-advancing strokes of the lower feed-element 3|, 32 and the upper feed-element'fll, 42 so that said feed-elements cooperate in the desired manner to advance the work. If preferred, an adjustable feed-advance eccentric similar to the eccentric it, or some other suitably adjustable eccentric, could be substituted for the auxiliary feed-advance eccentric 95.

Upon operation of the machine the: oscillatory movements of the bracket-arm rock-shaft l3, derivedv from the rotating main-shaft 6, are transmitted through the operativeconnections 19, H, 12, H and -61 to the fulcrum-plate 41 which is pivotally mounted on the electrode-bar 53. When the electrode-bar 53 is. in its lowest position, with the upper electrode 65 in engagement with the work, the forward movement of the link 6''! causes the fulcrum-plate 41 to swing forwardly about the fulcrum-stud 50, thereby lowering the upper feed-element 42 into engagement with the work. In the continued forward movement of the fulerum-plate 41, the fulcrum of said fulcrum-plate is shiftedfrom the fulcrum-stud 50 to the pivotstud 46, whereby the electrode-bar 53 is slightly llftei to raise the upper electrode .65 clear of the W0! l i In the rearward or return stroke of the link 61, the fulcrum-plate 47 initially swings about the pivot-stud 46, thereby lowering the upper electrode 65 into engagement with the work. The fulcrum of the-fulcrum-plate 41 then automatically shifts back to the fulcrum-stud 56, whereby theupper feed-element 42 is lifted clear of the Work. Consequently; the feed-bar. 45 and t e electrode-bar 53'are reciprocally actuated toward and from the work-support to cause the feedelement 42 and the electrode 65 alternately to engage the work;

The .described connections between the feedbar 45 and the auxiliary feed-advance. eccentric 55 operate to swing thefead-bar 45 rearwardly about the pivot-stud 46 when the feed-element 42 engages the work and to swing said feed-bar forwardly when the feed-element is lifted clear of the work. These movements of the feed-element 42 are timed with the work-advancing and return movements of the lower feed-element 3i to effect positive clamp feeding of superimposed work-plies by said feed-elements, whereby slippage of said plies relatively to each other is obviated.

It will be observed that the electrode-bar 53 and u per feed-bar 45 are urged downwardly by the action of the spring 58 and that the upper electrode 65 and upper feed-element 42 are arranged abreast of each other in the line of feed. This construction varies the reciprocatory zone of action of both the electrode-bar 53 and the upper feed-bar 45 in accordance with the variation in thickness of the material being acted upon, As an example, if an increased thickness, such asa cross-seam, is encountered by the upper feed-element 42, the pivot-stud 46 will not descend as far as it would have if thin material were under the feed-element 42, and as the throw of the linkfii is constant, the electrode 65 will be raised substantially the same distance above the material of the .cross-seamas it would be raised if the material were thin. As the fulcrum point of the fulcrum plate 41 alternately shifts between the pivot-stud 46 and the fulcrum-stud 50, the upper feed-element 42 is also always raised the same distance above the upper surface of the material being acted upon. These constructive features permit the upper electrode 65 and the upper feed-element 42 to float up and down and conform to variations in thickness of the work and, at the same time, maintain a substantially fixed amplitude of rising and falling or reciprocatory movements.

Connected to the upper electrode 65, by a screw 96, is one end of a flexible conductor 91. The other end of the conductor 91 is suitably secured to a binding-post 98 carried by a block 89 of suitable insulating material, such as polystyrene; said block 99 being secured by screws I to the front Wall of the bracket-arm head 4. In currenttransmitting connection with the conductor 91 is a connector-strap IIlI to which is attached the inner conductor I62 of a tuned coaxial cable I63. Clamped upon the outer conductor of the cable I63 is a current-transmitting clamp I64 secured by a bolt I65 to the bracket-arm head 4, whereby the outer conductor of the cable I63 is grounded upon the machine frame to which the lower electrode-plate 34 is secured.

As illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the cable I03 is suitably connected to an oscillator of the very high frequency or VHF type. The Federal Communications Commission has offlcially adopted the designation very high frequency 6'. as'indicating a frequency range from thirty to three hundred megacycles and the reference in this application to very high frequency is to be understood as meaning a frequency within the above noted range.

It will be understood from the foregoing de. scription that an electrostatic field of very high frequency will be established in the zone of the electrodes and 34, and that work-plies to be bonded are progressively advanced through said field or zone by the feeding mechanism of the machine. The work-plies may comprise thermoplastic materials which in themselves have the characteristic of becoming softened and welded together when passed between the relatively reciprocating electrodes, or the work-plies may have placed therebetween a suitable adhesive having similar characteristics of being responsive to an electrostatic field of very high frequency.

' Provision is made for together lifting the feedelement 4I and the electrode 65, againstthe action of the spring 58, for work-insertion and removal purposes. To this end, a lifter-block I06 is mounted upon the electrode-bar. 53 for limited slidingvmovement endwise of said bar; the upward movement of the block I66 being limited by the collar 5|. The block I06 carries a roller I6! engaged by the cam-edge I08 of a hand-operated lifter-lever I09 suitably fulcrumed upon the bracket-arm head 4. Preferably, the cam-edge I68 of the lifter-lever I09 is provided with a notch I III for predetermining the raised positions of the feed-element 4I and electrode 65.

The lifter-block I06 is additionally provided with a pin III positioned for engagement by a treadle-actuated lifter-lever II2, which latter is only partly illustrated in the drawings and may be of any suitable construction.

Having thus set 'forth the nature of the invention, what we claim herein is:

1. In an electrostatic bonding machine, in combination, a movable electrode, an electrode-bar carrying said movable electrode and confined to right line movements, a feed-element, a feedbar carrying said feed-element, a fulcrum-plate pivotally mounted upon said electrode-bar and pivotally supporting said feed-bar, means for rocking said fulcrum-plate for imparting reciprocal movements to said movable electrode and feed-element, means for imparting work-advancing and return movements to said feed-element, a second electrode opposed to said movable electrode, and means for establishing an electrostatic field of very high frequency between said electrodes.

2. In an electrostatic bonding machine, in combination, a pair of opposed electrodes providing a bonding zone, means for establishing an electrostatic field of very high frequency in said bonding zone, an electrode-bar carrying one of said electrodes and confined to right line reciprocation, means including a feed-element for progressively advancing superimposed work-plies through said bonding zone, a fulcrum-plate pivotally mounted upon said electrode-bar and pivotally connected with said feed-element, an actuating shaft, operative connections with said shaft for rocking said fulcrum-plate and thereby reciprocally actuating said electrode-bar and feedelement, said operative connections including means for relatively varying the amplitude of movement imparted thereby to said electrodebar and feed-element, and means for imparting work-advancing and return movements to said feed-element.

said work-support, fulcrum means interconnect- :1

ing said two bars, oscillating means connected with said fulcrum means thereby to rock it alters nately in opposite directions to cause it alternately to depress said electrode and feed elements into contact with work located on said work-support and alternately to lift said feed and electrode elements away from said work-support, said fulcrum means in its rocking movements serving to transfer to the depressed feed or electrode ele-- ment the full spring pressure, a second electrode opposed to said movable electrode, and means for establishing an electrostatic field Of very high frequency between said electrodes.

4. In an electronic seaming machine for forming a continuous bonded scam in dielectric ma terial, in combination, a work-support providing a stationary electrode, an upper movable electrode, an electrodesbar carrying said movable electrode and confined to right line movements in a fixed path toward and away from said work support, spring means for biasing said electrode bar toward said work support, means for peri odically lifting said electrode bar away from said workssupport against the action of said spring means, means for establishing a high frequency electrical field between said electrodes, an upper feed-element, a feed-bar carrying said feed-element, means for imparting work-advancing and return movements to said feedebar, and a fulcrum element connecting said feed-bar with said elec rode-bar for automatically causing said feed element in response to the movements of said e1ectrode-bar to move into and out of engagement with the work carried by said work-support a1- ternately relative to said movable electrode.

5. In an electrostatic bonding machine, in com, bination, a movable electrode, an electrode-bar carrying said movable electrode and confined to right line movements in a fixed path, a feed-ele-r ment, a feed-bar carrying said feed-element, a fulcrum-plate pivotally secured to each of said two bars, means for ranking said fulcrum-plate for imparting alternate reciprocal movements to said'movable electrode and ieedeelement, means for imparting work-advancing and return move, ments to said feedvelement, a second electrode opposed to said movable electrode, and means for establishing an electrostatic field of very high frequencybetween said electrodes.

HACKLANDER.

CHARLES P. SWEENY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES chine, from the magazine --Electronics for August 1943, pages 90-93, 160, 162, 164, 166, 168. 

